circumstances – Part I

She ran so quickly from the building that she didn’t notice the letter she dropped.

The group at the table by the bar watched the unknown woman run back through the door. “What the hell was that?” Someone asked. It made them laugh at the frantic behavior – all of them except Marty. What they didn’t know was that the woman had just seen her lover kiss another woman – all of them except Marty.

Marty also noticed a small letter fall from the woman’s black bag. She got up from the group and casually walked over the paper on the floor near the door. She pretended to tie a shoe lace to pick up the letter but Leslie was watching. When Marty stood, she slipped the paper into her jeans pocket and then she turned away from the doorway to face the jukebox. The coins dropped loudly into the old Wurlitzer. She found the buttons B19 without even having to look. The song started to play immediately.

Marty walked away towards the bathroom with Leslie following closely behind. Marty knew she was there but pretended not to notice as she quickened her own pace. Leslie still managed to push the door open at the same time as Marty did. Leslie was taller than Marty so her hand was right beside Marty’s head. “Hey.” she said quickly but was in a stall before Leslie could respond.

“Feeling sad?” Leslie said from another stall. Marty was already unfolding the paper.

“No why?”

“You’re playing that song.”

She began to read. It was written in crayon. The top line was written bigger and bolder than the rest. “Things that mean you’re in love” is what it said and under the title was a list. Leslie interrupted her. “You still there?”

“Yes.” She folded the letter back following the same creases in the paper. She flushed for effect. Leslie was standing waiting for her.

“What’s going on with you?”

“Huh?” Marty pushed the button on the hand dryer.

“You’re being strange.”

Marty giggled and shrugged it off nonchalantly. “I don’t know what you mean?”

Leslie thought about taking the letter from Marty’s pocket. Instead she just stormed out of the bathroom. “Whatever.”